Window construction



May 8, 1951 A. B. CHAMBERS WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed April l2P. 1946 2Shqets-Sheet l /NVE/V TOR A. CHME/QS ATTORNEYS May 8, 1951 A. B.CHAMBERS 2,551,657

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed April 22, 1946 2 Shees--Sheetl 2 A'. 5.CH/WBES ATTORNEYS fatented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES iTNT OFFICE WINDOWCONSTRUCTION Arthur B. Chambers, Memphis, Tenn.

Application April 22, 1946, Serial No. 664,025

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in window construction andmore particularly to mechanism for raising and lowering windows.

Oneof the objects thereof is to provide a simple, efficient andinexpensive means for eifecting the raising and lowering of the upperand lower windows of a building without the use of sash cords andweights.

Another object thereof is to provide improved means for thecounter-balancing of one double hung window with respect to the other.

A further object thereof is to provide a sturdy, dependable windowoperating mechanism for counter-balancing the windows in such a mannerthat as one window is raised, the other will be correspondingly loweredin unison therewith automatically.

Another object thereof is to provide a new form and construction ofwindow wherein sashes are provided only for the upper and lower edges ofthe windows and not for the vertical marginal edges thereof as well.

A still further object thereof is to provide means for weatherstrippingthe windows of my type of invention so that, while they are transverselyspaced apart across the window frame, exclusion or atmosphere by thewindows is made possible.

Another object thereof is to provide an alln metal window casement aswell as sashes for the windows so characterized that a stationaryhousing extending across the plane of the upper edge of one window andthe lower edge of the other window, when the windows are in closedrelation, contains the operative part of the window raising and loweringmechanism.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention constists in thearrangement, combina'- tion and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification and then more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughoutthe respective views,

Figure l is a vertical sectional elevation of my invention,

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section taken on line lli-t of Figure 1.

In the drawings, which are merely illustrative of my invention, all theparts of the invention are made to appear.

The present invention of window construction contemplates balancing theupper window against the lower window by means of gearing and a frictionlock. The use of weights and counterweights commonly employed for thispurpose is discarded in favor of a counter-balancing feature whichassures, at all times, positive holding in adjusted position of onewindow with respect to the other window.

In this type of window construction an allinetal frame construction forthe upper and lower windows is made use of. The wooden frame into whichthe metal frame is mounted is generally designated iii, Figure 1.

The metal jamb and frame furnished for use in connection with thepresent invention is generally denoted at il. It is a, rectangularhollow body. This metal body, on the side of the frame facing outside ofthe building, is shaped to provide a transversely extending lowersurface or narrow ledge i2 and an Lipper one i3, these being connectedby vertical portions lil and l5, Figure 2. This produces a rectangularframe which is formed as the outermost body o the complete all-metalwindow jamb. This body is formed integrally with a pressed out orindented rectangular, channel-shaped hollow stop member, disposed atright angles` to the width of the jamb. These channel-shaped stopmembers have outer walls or anges i6, rear spaced walls I9 and rightangular connecting walls il which are formed parallel with the walls land i5 of the window frame. The channels in these stop members aredesignated IS.

The oppositely arranged vertical side walls of the vertical frame aredesignated 26, 2l and the top and bottom walls connecting same, in aplane in advance of the stop members are designated 23, 2li. Anexamination of the bottom structure of this window jamb shows that thebottom wall 213 preferably inclines downwardly from the front to therear plane thereof. It also reveals that a depressed channeled integralportion 25 runs completely across the jamb transversely thereof at 25 inits front plane, made in one piece with the frontmost bottom portion 2l.The channeled portion 25 is formed with a coextensive channel 25 openinginto the interior of the jamb.

The upper surface of the transverse ledge 2l at the front of the lamb isdesignated in Figure 2 as 2l. rlShe lower window panel is located here.

/The upper window panel is spaced apart from the lower one transverselyof the jamb a slight distance so as to be disposed in parallel relation.I provide a pair of vertically extending stop members and mount themcontactingly against the portions of the side walls 28, 2| of thevertical jamb or frame which front on the ledge 21. The stop members aresecured by screws 28a to these parts of the jamb in such a manner thattheir inner flat surfaces form the stops proper for the lower windowpanel, while their right angular back side portions 38 overlie sidewalls 28, 2|, and their inner side portions 28 jut out in parallelrelation to the side walls 28, 2|.

Between the stop members 6, |1 and 28, 29 are located intermediate stopmembers also of channeled-out construction so as to provide confiningmeans for the upper and lower window panels against these stop members.Each channeled intermediate stop member is a Vertical metal body 3| and32 arranged to Contact the side walls 28, 2| of the jamb. The rightangular flanges 35, 35a, and 36, 36a of the two vertical channeled stopmembers now being described are arranged in parallelism and are spacedaway from the adjacent portion |9 of stop members I6, |1, and theadjacent portion 29 of stop members 28, 29. In this way tracks areformed vertically of the jamb for the window panels to adjustably slidein.

The parallel right angular flanges 35, 35a, and 36, 36a of the stopmembers 3| and 32 terminate in right angular inwardly extendingabutments 33, 33a, and 34, 34a respectively. The channels in these stopmembers are designated 31 and 38 respectively. Screws 41 secure thesestop members against the Vertical side walls 20, 2| of the jamb.

I provide suitable weatherstrips for use in conjunction with the windowpanels or panes. Right angular angle iron strips are interposed betweenthe top rear window panel 8| and the stop members i6, l1, and similarangle iron weatherstrips are interposed between lower front window panelS and the stop members 28, 29. One weather strip has one side 40overlapping side 25 of the jamb, extending the full length thereof,being operatively secured thereto. The other and right angular ange 42thereof contacts side |9 of the stop members I5, i1.

The other angle iron weatherstrip has one side 46 overlying operativelyside 28 of the vertical jamb, and its right angular side 44 overlyingthe portion a of the intermediate stop member 3l. It will be noted thatthe side of one weatherstrip also extends so as to abut the inturnedportion 33 of the stop member 3|, while the side 46 of the otherweatherstrip also extends so as to overlie the edge of portion 29 ofstop member 28, 29.

On the other side 2| of the jamb are similar weatherstrips to those justnow described in connection with side 26 of this same jamb. Oneweatherstrip has the right angular sides 39 and 4|, of which side 4|overlies portion I9 of stop member I6, |1, while side 39 overlies side2| of the jamb and by its other face abuts inturned portion 34 of thestop member 32. The other weatherstrip has one side 43 abutting theportion 36a of the stop member 32, and another right angular side 45abutting side 2| of the jamb and also the edge of portion 29 of stopmember 28, 29. Number 49 designates the elongated part of either channel3'! or 38 of the two vertical intermediate stop members 3| and 32, whilethe corners thereof are designated 52 and 53 respectively, Figure l.

Fitted snugly into the channels of these stop members so as to ll theelongated portions 49 as well as the corners 52, 53 of the channels 31and 38 of both stop members are metal inserts 5D and 5| respectively. Iprovide a substantially oblong rectangular housing or case and locate itacross the width of the window frame centrally thereof. This housing iscomposed of the vertical oppositely arranged side walls 54, 55, theintegral top and bottom walls 56 and 51 respectively disposed at rightangles with respect to side walls 54, 55. The side walls 54, 55 asillustrated in Figure 2, terminate short of the full width of the jamb,but the top and bottom walls 56 and 51 are shown partly in Figure 3,extend up to the plane of the vertical stop members 3| and 32, wherethey are formed with right angular flanges 6| for the top wall and 63for the bottom wall. These anges 6| are secured by screws or otherfasteners 62 to the side 32 of the Vertical stop member 32, and side 3|of the member 3|. The anges 63, however, extend into integral odsetportions 64 formed upon these parts of the stop members 3|, 32.

Reference being made particularly to Figure 3, it will be observed thatthe metal inserts 5| in the vertical intermediate stop members 3| and 32have the inner ends of pinion shafts 52 and 53 extended into them, whichshafts also project into walls 32 of these stop members. The majorportions of the shafts 52 and 53 however, extend into the housing. Apair of pinions 64 are made fast upon shafts 52, 53, at the outermostends of the housing. The outer ends of the shafts 52, 53 extend into andare journaled in the blocks 54a which are frictionally contacted withside walls 54, 55 of the housing as shown in Figure 3.

It will be seen that rollers 65 engage circumferentially the shafts 52,53 and the inner circumferences of the holes of the pinions 64 intowhich these rollers extend. This provides antifrictional bearings forthe set of pinions. The interior of the housing is designated 51a.

The diagonally opposite corners of the top and bottom walls 56, 51 (Fig.l) of the housing are indented. Thus, an angle iron offset integrallyconnects and intervenes between the corner connecting wall 54 and wall51 of the housing, and wall 56 and wall 55 thereof. The portion 58, 58aof each angle iron offset is disposed parallel to walls 56, 51 of thehousing, being formed at right angles upon walls 54, 55 of the housing.Similarly, the other right angular part 59, 59a of the angle iron partsare disposed parallel to walls 54, 55 of the housing being formed atright angles to walls 56, 51 thereof and also upon portions 58, 58a ofthese oisets. By extending the terminals of walls 54, 55 beyond oisetportions 58, 58a of the offsets, parallel to portions 59, 59a thereof,grooves 60 68a are provided diagonally of the housing, which extendcoextensively with the walls thereof. It will be seen that groove 68opens out upwardly of the housing while groove 68a opens out downwardlythereof.

The upper window panel is designated 88 and the lower one 8|. They haveno vertical sash parts lining their opposite vertical edges. An upperand lower sash, however, is fitted upon the horizontal upper and loweredges of these window panels 88 and 8|. They are made preferably ofmetal. Arranged vertically near the Vertical side marginal edges of thewindow panels 68 and 8| are vertical rack bars 66 and 61 respectivelywhich have their inner faces operatively secured in contact with theconfronting sides of the panels 88 and 8|. The upper ends of these rackbars 66, 61 are secured to the upper sashes of the window panels 80, 8|.These sashes will now be described. The teeth of the rack bars aredesignated 68.

The lower sash bar is a dual recessed body formed by providing threeright angular iianges 72, 'll and 10 upon the length of the base portion69 thereof of graduated lengths, of which fiange 'I2 is the shortest andflange l0 is the longest. This produces a recess 'I3 between flanges 'Iland |53 into which the lower horizontal edge of the panel 80 extends andis held airtight in puttied relationship to the sash as at 13,contacting the flanges 'Ill and 1| snugly. The other recess T4 betweenflanges 1|, 12 of the sash extends coextensively along the length of thesash and opens out upwardly therefrom.

The upper sash bar is a single recessed metal body having the spacedapart lateral flanges 1G, 'Il formed as offset lateral portions upon thecentering shank 'l5 of the sash bar which projects above the windowpanel 8U. Between anges 16, of this upper sash bar i'lts the upperhorizontal edge of the window panel 80,

being held therein in puttied relationship as at 19. There is a rightangular extension flange 'i8 projecting forwardly from the upper sashbar. The vertical rack bars Sii are secured at opposite ends to portion1B at one end, and to portion 69 at the other end of the panel 8D.

At the upper horizontal edge of the lower window panel 8| is a partexactly similar to sash bar shown fitted to the lower part of panel 80,'except that it is reversed in position so its recess Ma opens outdownwardly of the panel 8|. The three graduated flanges are designated10a, 'Ha and 12a'. The upper edge of panel 3| is held fast in the recessbetween flanges 19a, 1|a in puttied relation thereto, or otherwise. Atthe lower end of the panel 8| is fitted another sash bar, the baseportion of which is denoted at 33. Parallel respectively long and shortsides 35, 81| are formed right angularly in spaced apart relation uponbase portion 83 of this sash bar. The long side B of this sash barprojects Vertically below base'portion 83 providing a tongue, while itsupper end is turned outwardly at right angles as at 81 to provide ahandle hold for raising and lowering the lower window panel 8|.

For the purpose of holding the window panels 8|) and 8| in adjustedposition when they have been opened, or to hold them against openingwhen they are shut, I provide a special form of locking means therefor.This is illustrated in Figures l, 3 and 4 particularly. Number 9Bdesignates the opposing vertical side edges of each panel.

The top wall 5S of the housing is formed with an elongated slot 9| in aplane with the ilange 6| of the housing through which the teeth of onepinion S4 are exposed, in line with the slot, each in succession, and soare the slots between the teeth of this pinion. Projecting snugly intothis slot 9| is the shank 93 of a detent having a head 94 which slidablyoverlies a washer of rubber or the like material 95 by which it isspaced above top wall 5B of the housing movably. The shank 93 is formedwith a narrow-shaped barb S2, the inner parts of which slidably abut theunder face of top wall 56 of the housing. It will be seen that the barb92 of the detent projects with its lowermost point below the peripheryof the pinion 64.

The use and operation of the invention will now be detailed. It will beseen that the rack bars the window panel 8 6 and 6l are disposed betweenintermediate vertical stop members 3l and d2 and the blocks 54a, fittedfrictionally in the ends of the housing proper. Also it will be seenthat the main body of this housing is fixedly located between panels and3| with their opposing vertical sides 5d, 55 facing these panels, andwith the ends of these sides disposed in close proximity to rack barst6, 6l. The vertical marginal edges Si) of the window glass panel Sisnugly slide rubbingly against sides 4i, [l2 of the weatherstrips andalso against sides 3S, it thereof, and also slidably abut the portions35, 36 oi the vertical stop members 3|, 32. The other glass panel 8G hasits vertical marginal edges SG slidably bear against sides di, 4G and43, 5 of the inner and lower weatherstrips, and also bear slidablyagainst the portions 29 of stop members 28, 29. In this way outside airis shut out from innltering into the room, the windows of which areequipped with my invention. l

By taking hold of the handle @l on window panel 8| at the lower part ofthe window jamb and raising this panel, rack bars SS or @l thereof moveupwardly, so the teeth 63 thereof mesh with pinions 6d in the ends ofthe housing. This turns the pinions clockwise causing the teeth thereofto mesh with the rack bars on the other panel 8@ `which is the upperrear panel of the jamb. Normally, when both window panels are in closedrelation, the upper ends of rack bars on lower panel and the lower endsof rack bars on upper' panel Sli mesh with diametrically opposite pointsof the pinions 64. Hence, when lower front panel 8| is raised, and thepinions turn clockwise, the rack bars on panel 8i] move downwardlycausing upper back panel Sil to move downwardly automatically. In thesame manner by pressing down upon handle 8l and lowering window panel 8|the other panel Sii may be caused to move upwardly. Having'opened thetwo panels 8U and 8| adjustably, the user takes hold of washer andslides same upon top wall 56 of the housing in the direction of flange5| (Fig. 3), and the pinion thereadjacent permitting, he causes the barb92 of the detent thus slid in its slot 9|, to project in one slotbetween two teeth of this pinion so as to lock this pinion againstrotation. In this manner the two winn dow panels 8E and 8| are lockedagainst accidental movement in their tracks. It will also be observedthat this affords a burglar proof window construction since manipulationof the outer panel Bil is frustrated if nefarious movement is desiredfrom outside of the jainb, since both panels are locke-d by means of thedetent applied as explained.

When the window panel 8| moves downwardly as far as it can go into fullyclosed position, the tongue 86 of this panel projects snugly into recess26 of the jamb upon the bottom threshold 21 thereof, and when this samepanel has been moved thus into fully closed position, the flange 12a ofits upper sash bar will project snugly and be received in the recess di)of the upper end of the housing. In this manner an airtight seal is hadfor both the upper and lower portions of When the upper rear panel 80 ismoved upwardly into fully closed position, the marginal edges e@ thereofhave entered snugly the guide track 89a of the jamb, and the tophorizontal edge 86a of this panel 8d engages deflected part B9 of aspring weatherstrip se- Theipanel '8l in reaching its lowermost positionhad also engaged deflected portion 88 of a weatherstrip.operativelysecured to the lower sash bar thereof, had flattened this strip and madean airtight seal at this point of the panel 8E,

It will be noted that the present metal window construction is adaptedto be applied in proper use upon or within an old frame already in useor a new frame placed in the building in the course of construction. Itcould be applied in connection with the studs in the walls or withrespect to the blockings in a masonry wall. The invention has theadvantage that the upper sash is automatically lowered at the top, whenthe lower sash is raised.

I do not mean to conne myself to the exact details of constructiondisclosed in the drawings and specification, but claim all variationsset forth in the appended claims.

What I desire to claim and patent is:

1. In a device as described having a vertically disposed channel memberincluding a web and inturned base anges, and a window frame side againstwhich the base flanges of said member are secured; a hollow cross beamhaving one end secured to but opening out into the channel member so asto be closed by said channel member, blocks snugly tted in each end ofsaid channel member in the channel thereof, pinions, pinion shaftsprojecting into and journalled in the web of the channel member and theblocks therein,

said pinions being mounted in said cross beam,

and means slidably mounted on the cross beam 'projecting into the crossbeam for engaging the pinion for the purpose of locking the latter whensaid means is disposed above said pinion, a window structure includingupper and lower panels,

being terminated at "each end inwardly of said side portions of theframe to provide slots adapted 'to receive said vertical rack bars,blocks in said housing adjacent each end thereof, a shaft extending intoeach end of said housing and having the opposite ends thereof journalledin said'blocks in said housing and in said side portions of said frame,a pinion rotatably carried by each shaft in registration `with saidslots and meshing with said rack bars, at least one elongated slotformed in the top wall of said housing adjacent at least one end thereofwith the longitudinal axis of said elongated slot extending parallel tothe axis of the underlying one of said shafts, and a anged'lockingmember slidably mounted in said elongated slot and having a portioncomprising a conical detent extending into said housing and engagingbetween the teeth of the underlying pinion when said locking member isslid to the outer end of said elongated slot.

ARTHUR B. CHAMBERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 51,799 Butler' Jan. 2, 1866612,367 Shaffer Oct. 11, 1898 653,399 Rapp July 10, 1900 760,788 HarrisMay 24, 1904 868,972 Curwood 1 Oct. 22, 1907 901,680 Carter Oct. 20,1908 1,039,263 .Davis Sept. 24, 1912 1,480,453 Lane Jan. 8, 19241,692,982 Fien Nov. 27, 1928 1,845,985 Plym Feb. 16, 1932 1,923,233 RossAug. 22, 1933 2,073,910 kStrom Mar. 16, 1937 2,090,552 Ready Aug. v17,1937 V2,209,293 Cannon et al July 23, 1940

